Cutting carbs and weightloss - Weight Loss Support

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Cutting carbs and weightloss

Finding_Fitness profile image
40 Replies

Ok so I've heard that lowering carbs or going keto can help with weightloss, and I keep an eye on the amount I have (and I avoid all processed carbs), but I didn't know if it really made a difference or not. Until today..

Basically, my mum who's in her 70s and overweight, was told 2 weeks ago, that she was one point (or whatever the correct measure is) away from having type 2 diabetes. Her doctor said to reduce carbs, and increase protein and healthy fats.

My mum panicked and went virtually carb- free for a week, (whilst still having the same number of calories) and she lost 5lbs. The 2nd week she introduced lower carb veggies and berries and lost another 2lbs.

My mum is ecstatic that she's finally losing weight after years of low-fat dieting which didn't really work. And she's pretty confident that her new way of eating will stop her ending up diabetic.

But she is still getting used to the idea that low-fat = loads of sugar... Or that 'eating fat doesn't make you fat'

As she said to me almost incredulouly: " it's like everything I was told about nutrition and how to lose weight in the 1970s was wrong"

Anyway the point of this post isn't just that I'm convinced that lowering carbs actually can aid weightloss. It's really about how you're never too old to learn a new way of doing things. And that I'm super proud of my mum❣

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Finding_Fitness
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40 Replies
TheTabbyCat profile image
TheTabbyCatAdministrator16kg

Well done to your Mum! It just shows that it's never too late to try something new. I thought I'd share a link which may interest you.

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toTheTabbyCat

Thanks TTC! I'll have a look

TheTabbyCat profile image
TheTabbyCatAdministrator16kg

Hi again Finding_Fitness, these are the other links I was looking for which are both interesting info about Low carb.

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toTheTabbyCat

Thanks! I'll get my reading specs back on 😁

Clematisa1 profile image
Clematisa11st 7lbsMaintainer in reply toTheTabbyCat

Thanks for those links TheTabbyCat I'll be having a look there too. 😀

TheTabbyCat profile image
TheTabbyCatAdministrator16kg in reply toClematisa1

You're welcome.

Clematisa1 profile image
Clematisa11st 7lbsMaintainer

I have lost most of my 1st7lbs by eating fewer carbs and not bothering about the fat content in things like yogurt and milk having butter not low fat spread and I rarely feel hungry at all. So I recommend cutting out the white carbs and highly processed foods to anyone trying to lose or keep weight off. 😀 Your mum is an absolute star Finding_Fitness

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toClematisa1

Aaw thank-you Clematisa1 😊 and congratulations on your weight loss 🎊

boo1961 profile image
boo1961 in reply toClematisa1

Hi Clematis, can I ask do you eat wholemeal bread, brown rice etc, or have you cut these totally as well as processed carbs? I've been doing low carb, around 30gm daily, but thought I had to cut all rice, pasta, bread etc which I have to admit is very hard!

Clematisa1 profile image
Clematisa11st 7lbsMaintainer in reply toboo1961

Hi boo1961 when I am eating bread it's usually sourdough or wholemeal but I do have a half croissant every morning and a pain au chocolat on a Tuesday after my weekly weigh in . I'd say they're both full of fat rather than sugar but I'd need to look that up to be sure. Sorry but I have never worked out how to measure carbs and I hardly do anything containing the white stuff as in sugar or white flour ( or salt) and I just don't eat highly processed shop bought food as they're so full of sugar and salt - I got fed up reading the labels to be honest, lol...I had to go for a colonoscopy recently and that means a special diet of things like white meat white fish and white bread, rice pasta - no veggies fruit or anything remotely high in fibre. I bought a white loaf then I found it really hard to give up the white bread after I was back on my normal diet, somebody reminded me of how much sugar is in it so I'm guessing that's what makes it so addictive and it could be the salt you add to the white rice and pasta - ever tried having things like pasta, rice or potatoes cooked without salt you'd soon give them up I'm guessing. Not sure if that helps any thoough maybe if I understood how to measure the carbs I'd eat more of them ...? You just have to find a plan that works for you, I do 2 meals a day and stop at 6pm , though sometimes I do have some dark chocolate after 6pm though my challenge this week is to cut down on that.😀

boo1961 profile image
boo1961 in reply toClematisa1

Thankyou for your quick reply and information Clematis 😊 Its very helpful.I use a calorie counting app which you can set to tell you the amount of carbs in the food recorded (it can also be set to tell you sugar or fat etc depending on your needs)

I would have no idea of working it out myself! 🤪

We all have to find what suits us individually I'm learning.

Well done on your loss, and good luck for future xx

BridgeGirl profile image
BridgeGirlAdministrator2 stone in reply toboo1961

Boo, if bread is a bit of a thing for you, you might like this post healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

Clematisa1 profile image
Clematisa11st 7lbsMaintainer in reply toBridgeGirl

I found lots of good ideas there too BridgeGirl

boo1961 profile image
boo1961 in reply toBridgeGirl

Thankyou Bridge girl 😊

Clematisa1 profile image
Clematisa11st 7lbsMaintainer in reply toboo1961

Which app do you use please ? I'd be interested in checking it out. 👍

boo1961

boo1961 profile image
boo1961 in reply toClematisa1

I use Nutracheck you can use it free for a while and full access is 3.99 a month, or at the moment I think it's 19.99 for 12 months.I don't usually like to pay for apps 😅 but I find this worth it

Clematisa1 profile image
Clematisa11st 7lbsMaintainer in reply toboo1961

Thanks for that boo1961 will have a look at that as I use myfitnesspal for free too but only because it can link to and read my weigh-in scales

BridgeGirl profile image
BridgeGirlAdministrator2 stone

Good on your mum, and good on her doctor for pointing her in the right direction :)

LosingGame profile image
LosingGame

Hi Finding_Fitness

Congratulations! In fact there are several ways to diet, exercise and do intermittent fasting. Because we all have different bodies what works for me may not for u or your mom. I want to show the other side and remind u that your doc advised healthy fats - its because heart matters. When the heart gets affected then it is very risky. So take care from now:

health.com/weight-loss/keto...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

heart.org/en/healthy-living...

cdc.gov/diabetes/library/fe...

Best of luck

BridgeGirl profile image
BridgeGirlAdministrator2 stone in reply toLosingGame

It sounds like her mum has a sensible GP who has put her on the right track

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toBridgeGirl

Absolutely BridgeGirl 😊

Iwilldothisthisyear profile image
Iwilldothisthisyear1kgRestart Oct 2024Restart Feb 2024

I’m very happy for your Mum xx

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toIwilldothisthisyear

Thank-you❣

Iwilldothisthisyear profile image
Iwilldothisthisyear1kgRestart Oct 2024Restart Feb 2024 in reply toFinding_Fitness

I am trying to gradually reduce my carbs as I found Low Carb to restrictive for me . I trying to have whole wheat carbs and good fats and eat within an 8 hour window .I had a bad IBS flare up on Monday when I had a big salad & the constant told me to monitor what veggies cause me issues & what I can tolerate.

I’m also intolerant to eggs & don’t really like the texture of meat & am trying to reduce the amount I eat - not very good for LCHF 😊

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toIwilldothisthisyear

It's all about finding what works for you isn't it? Best of luck managing your IBS 🙂

Iwilldothisthisyear profile image
Iwilldothisthisyear1kgRestart Oct 2024Restart Feb 2024 in reply toFinding_Fitness

Thank you . It’s mostly ok , I get the odd flare up but I was so glad to be working from home that day rather than in the office where you need electronic cards to unlock the doors .

Apecouch profile image
ApecouchVisitor

That's fantastic. I've lowered the amount kf carb in my diet drastically and have lost three stone - together with intermittent fasting - I ear well daily in an 8 hour window is the aim. Like your mum I am getting around old ideas. With the fasting I actually had gurgles and a hunger growl recently and something I had not experienced for a very long time - it made me smile - it felt normal. Carbs are sugar when broken down but so very moreish....Good luck to you and your mum...x

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toApecouch

Today's brilliant! Good for you! 😊

crofter21 profile image
crofter21

Many thanks, definitely going down the low carb route.

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply tocrofter21

You're welcome! Hope you get on good as my mum 😀

Gizmocat profile image
GizmocatModerator13kgMaintainer

Well done your mum. Its great she has an informed GP as some sadly are not but it seems to be improving. As you can see from the replies here a lot of us here follow a low carb diet in some form and it does work. I am proof of that. I was prediabetic and started following a LCHF diet. I was never very low carb or Keto as it is quite restrictive. I still follow it although in a more relaxed way as I am maintaining and I have kept the weight off and my blood sugars are normal.

I would definitely recommend it.

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toGizmocat

Thanks Gizmocat! Are you not pre-type 2 now?

Lytham profile image
Lytham3 stone

Awe I'm so very pleased for your Mum, that's BRILLIANT!

ALL HAIL LOW CARB :-) x

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toLytham

Thanks chick, so proud of my mum!

Lytham profile image
Lytham3 stone in reply toFinding_Fitness

I bet, I've heard of people even reversing diabetes with low carb so let's hope she manages to turn things around, fingers crossed :-) x

Sheperdess profile image
SheperdessMaintainer

That is wonderful news about your Mum 😄I too have benefited greatly from the Low Carb lifestyle. It gave me a weight loss of 4 stone with no hunger at all. All of that weight has stayed off for nearly 2 years now. The food is delicious and my other half has even seen his arthritis pain and inflammation reduce. I wish you and your Mum all the best and hope that her health continues to improve. Sending hugs 🤗

Finding_Fitness profile image
Finding_Fitness in reply toSheperdess

Aaaw that's lovely, thankyou! And great to hear it works long-term and helps with other health issues! 😊

Herman7275 profile image
Herman7275Restart June 2024

I too on low carb diet,69 yrs old, been on 30 carbs a day for 2 yrs, exercise, weight has slowed down, lost 50lbs need to loose 50lbs more. Can you give me any highlights, tips, or any new info, would greatly appreciate this ,!???

moreless profile image
morelessAdministrator7 stone in reply toHerman7275

I suggest you post your meal plans on our Daily Diary, Herman7275. That way we can see exactly what you're eating and can offer tips about how to tweak things :)

Herman7275 profile image
Herman7275Restart June 2024

Well, I usually eat breakfast, either s low carb yogurt and water or coffee. Or eggs either scrambled with schredded cheese or at restaurant 3 eggs over medium, crisp bacon, no toast, no potatoes and black coffee, normally no lunch, then either fix skinless, boneless chicken (which almost too expensive) or boneless pork tenderloin in crock pot or ham , occasionally find fish, I am only allowed broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower but can't find much frozen cauliflower anymore, buy most frozen, but occasionally buy a head of cauliflower. Eat little cottage cheese, more eggs. Eat for snacks of hard cheese sliced & salami , & occasionally a little dark chocolate. What do yo think, patient with a diet dr from IU Medical Center. Since 2018, now taking for help on curbing appetite. Its called Phentermine.

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